One of the persistent criticisms of the Miami Heat is that while they are overloaded with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, they are weak at point guard and center. That’s if they run a conventional lineup.

Here’s the key quote: “He will be a playmaker. But he has also been a scoring champ. He will be at the end of plays to finish them. He will be a facilitator. He’ll be so many different things. We want to take advantage of all his skills.”

This is smart. There is no reason for Spoelstra to use a regular lineup when he has such unconventional talent. James is one the best playmaking forwards in the league and Wade has also run Miami’s offense. Both James and Wade have played on teams that demanded they take a huge percentage of shots, but both are also excellent passers. The Heat don’t need conventional players. They need shooters on the perimeter and a compliment to Bosh inside.

A lineup with Wade, Miller and James along with Bosh and Udonis Haslem is probably Miami’s strongest and one that leaves the traditional positions all mixed up.

Coming up with counters for the Heat will be a constant challenge and the Celtics have options. Doc Rivers experimented with a backcourt of Rajon Rondo and Nate Robinson at times last season, but it didn’t really take. Perhaps with a full training camp at their disposal it could have time to jell.

That would be a serious speed advantage, but obviously a gamble in terms of height. But in spots, or with Avery Bradley in the mix, it could be an interesting way to change the tempo, especially defensively.

Rajon Rondo hasn’t had a lot to say about why he left the United States team just before the FIBA World Championships in Turkey, but that hasn’t stopped others from speculating about the decision. (For my take, click here).

Rondo spoke to ESPN’s Ric Bucher over the weekend in San Francisco where he was hosting a 1-on-1 tournament on Alcatraz for Red Bull, which he endorses. Bucher also talked to Rondo’s agent Bill Duffy, was said he was the one who pushed Rondo to go out for the team, something the All-Star guard has resisted in the past.

Other reasons cited in the piece include: fatigue, both mental and physical, and family issues. (His uncle died during the preliminary games.) It will be interesting to see how much weight Rondo’s decision has on the 2012 Olympic team, or if he has any desire to play when it comes around.

Shaq went on to say that he has a good relationship with Dwight Howard off the floor, but it’s different when they’re on the court. “He’s a great young player,” Shaq said. “But on the court it’s not about making friends, it’s about doing what you’re supposed to do to win that game to win a championship.”

Scalabrine has made numerous charitable appearances for the Celtics this summer and maintained that he still wants to play, but there don’t appear to be many offers for his services, either here or elsewhere.

I think Finley is too old at this point, but Scalabrine is a guy the Bulls have talked with a lot this summer and especially with [Tom] Thibodeau I can see him as possible depending on what goes on regarding [Rudy] Fernandez. You need a good team guy willing to root a lot and Scalabrine would be that.

New coaches often bring former players with them to help implement their system and Scalabrine wouldn’t be a bad resource for Tom Thibodeau. The Bulls also have roster spots available.

Still, the Bulls have also been linked to rumors for the likes of Carmelo Anthony and Rudy Fernandez, which would make Scal, at best, a fallback option.

Earlier this summer Paul Pierce suggested that the Celtics should go away for training camp so the team can bond, much like they did before the 2007-08 season that ended in a championship. That’s not going to happen.

The Celtics will spend a week at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island before returning to their regular home in Waltham for the rest of camp.

“It’s crazy. I can remember days when I was just a little boy watching him play here at LSU. Shaq was everywhere in the city. To be in the NBA and play against him and now having him on the same team it’s unbelievable. I’m so glad he’s on our team and he can help us get back to that championship.”

Davis is a legend at LSU. He won SEC Rookie of the Year honors, SEC Player of the Year as a sophomore and led the Tigers to the Final Four.